Monrovia – Occupants of the Antoinette Tubman Cheshire Home in Sinkor and the old folks’ home in Central Monrovia are complaining about lack of support from government.
Report by Henry Karmo – [email protected]
They expressed their concern when they received food and non-food items donated by the Liberia Revenue Authority over the weekend.
George Hassan in his 40s is a resident of the Antoinette Cheshire orphanage.
He has been at the home since he was 10 years old and he, on behalf of the others, requested the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) to assist them in restoring their power.
According to him since a heavy storm in 2014 disconnected their lines they haven’t been able to restore the power.
“Please help us Madam Commissioner General, since October 2014 we lost electricity we have not been able to restore it. I am crying to you to please help us with our power and water,” he said.
“The home was established since 1985 to cater to the less fortunate in the society majority of the people you see here today were abandoned by their parents.
The majority of these residents are mentally disabled we have a committed catering staff that makes only US$25.00 as take home pay.”
Like the orphanage, the old folk’s home suffers from the lack of Government support the social welfare component of government doesn’t reach their door steps.
The home currently has nine inhabitants with age range 65 years and above.
The old folks’ home, according to Albert Dweh coordinator of the home, was established in 1951 by a group of women under the banner Evangelistic women workers of Liberia. Their first home is being used by the group of 77 on Newport Street.
They were transferred to their First Street home during the administration of former Liberian President Williams V. S. Tubman who saw it necessary at the time to have them transferred because of the then bad condition of the Newport Street location.
On Saturday, July 15, 2017, from the Liberia Revenue Authority headed by it Commissioner General (C.G) Elfreda Tamba donated some food and non-food items to them.
The gesture according to her was part of the LRA Corporate Social responsibility.
The Items donated included; Soap, Rice, Sardines, cooking Oil, frozen Chicken and bed covers.
Madam Tamba, also promised to paint the building as requested by the home.
“If we are effective, the better we do our work and the more effective we are, the better it is for the Republic of Liberia and its entire people including you.”
“The more resources Government disposes of the more empowered Government will be to be able to serve you all better.”
“We are here to present to you few items and they are exactly what you said you wanted.”
“On behalf of the LRA and in furtherance of our Corporate Social Responsibility we are here to share these few items with you.”